Bilingual School Social Worker Working With Students Who Qualify For Mckinney Vento ( .6 Fte)

Position Title: Bilingual School Social Worker working with students who qualify for McKinney Vento ( .6 FTE)

Department: Deans

Reports To: Assistant Principal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Building: Highland Park High School

Deadline: until filled

Start Date: 8/2024

Anticipated Start: 8/2024

SUMMARY:

Provide services to the children and youth in the McKinney-Vento Program to help them overcome obstacles and barriers to receiving an education and to assist families with social services needs. Ideal candidates will demonstrate the competencies of the District 113 Portrait of an Educator.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervise classroom, students, and interns on an as-needed basis.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Masters-level degree program (Social Worker) that includes an internship and emphasizes preparation in the following: data-based decision making, consultation and collaboration, student diversity and development, and prevention/intervention strategies in regards to student mental health and behavior.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Candidates must hold a Professional Educator License with a School Social Worker endorsement. Certification registered with Lake County ROE.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Other duties may be assigned. Social workers work with students individually and in groups, and they collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to support students' social, emotional, and behavioral health. They educate teachers and parents about effective strategies to manage behavior in school and at home. Social workers engage in activities to prevent and manage crises and address issues related to the abuse of drugs and other substances. Social workers follow Board policies and district procedures and demonstrate the characteristics of an effective District 113 educator.

• Assisting administrators and staff to understand the familial, cultural, and community components of students' responses to instruction, learning, and academic success

• Assessing student learning needs in collaboration with teachers to develop effective plans that support academic growth

• Providing individual and small group counseling support, crisis intervention, and consultation to students and families

• Conducting safety assessments and creating comprehensive therapeutic plans

• Facilitating focused support groups

• Developing, evaluating, and modifying evidence-based intervention plans that are guided by the student's educational needs, cultural background, family system, ecological factors, student strengths, and social-emotional needs

• Participating in a variety of meetings: Individual Education Program meetings, 504 review meetings, attendance meetings, domain meetings, parent/student conferences, etc.

• Understand all federal guidelines as they pertain to the eligibility of children and provision of services for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Program

• Understand and have knowledge of the McKinney-Vento Act

• Coordinate with designees, social workers, and school staff in the district to assist homeless students with obtaining documents necessary to enter school

• Coordinate with family liaison, social workers and school staff to assist with services and supplies that benefits children, youth and families

• Monitor attendance and truancy of homeless students

• Assist with medical needs i.e., glasses, immunizations, dental and mental health that impairs school performance

• Check on enrollment records, and identify support needs, if special education -assist with IEP's and with parent/guardian questions. Advocate for the child if the evaluation process needs to be implemented

• Assist and provide direct service to unaccompanied youth, mentor and provide supplies, resources and case management in an effort to support them toward high school graduation and utilize youth services, runaway and HUD programs for housing

• Network with community agencies to provide appropriate referrals to agencies, organizations, housing and health care

• Assist families with resources and services to overcome homelessness

• Advocate and expedites services for our homeless population

• Utilize crisis intervention skills, case management and community resources knowledge to support the family to move toward greater family stabilization for better school performance when possible

• Maintain documentation on all services provided to children and youth

• Other duties assigned by McKinney-Vento Liaison

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Possess effective oral and written communication skills in English and Spanish

• Possess mathematical and analytical skills appropriate for the position.

• Effective oral and written communication skills.

• Mathematical and analytical skills appropriate for the position

• Work with students and adults in a positive manner

• Comprehend and follow written and verbal instructions

• Common sense, problem-solving skills and reasoning ability to appropriately deal with day-to-day instruction and supervisory situations

• A solid working knowledge of the federal and state special education regulations

• Build and maintain the confidentiality of employee, student and families and respect other sensitive District information

• Set goals and establish methods for achieving these goals

• Work effectively with a diverse school and community population

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential Functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, bend, write, type, speak, and listen. In addition, the employee may occasionally be required to bend, twist, reach and climb. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, peripheral and distant vision.

The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet/moderate to loud. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.

The statements in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by (an) individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities related to the position. This job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity and School Board Policy and procedures. Essential and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.